Moscow made 19 billion rubles ($304m) at the World Cup, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said at the Moscow Urban Forum in Zaryadie Park yesterday.

The mayor named a figure of 13 billion rubles that is now in the city budget and recouped more than half of what had been spent to reconstruct the Luzhniki Stadium (25 billion rubles).

Sobyanin also said that there were other perks, namely, the increased number of tourists, almost four million people, spent over 96 billion rubles ($1.5b) in the city.

2018 World Cup was held in 11 Russian cities from June 14 to July 15. Moscow hosted 11 matches at Luzhniki and Spartak; the tickets were sold out. France became the world champion after beating Croatia 4-2 in the finals.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the event Russia hosted has been the best in the World Cup history so far. Infantino thanked everyone who participated in the organization of the championship.

He added that the 2018 World Cup has changed how Russia is portrayed and let everyone breathe the football air. The average stadium occupancy rate was 98 %, it was pointed out. More than three billion people watched the event on TV.